Celes cried out in pain. The soothing calm of the magic was absent as her bone and flesh was forcibly knit back together; in the heat of the battle, there was no time for such pleasant touches. More importantly, perhaps, was the breach of tactics. She could have healed herself; Cyan was fighting in her place, and could have used the support. On a brighter day, she might have been pleased for Terra’s timely assistance... but on a brighter day, they would not have been in combat.

"What are you doing?" she hissed. This, too, was a breach of tactics, but she doubted the half-esper would recognize that. "Help him."

"He can handle it." Terra met her eyes with that piercing, unworldly gaze, forcing her to look away. But the sight of the still slick blood on her leg merely served to force the words home. "You’re endangering yourself."

Still, Celes told herself otherwise. She accepted Terra’s help, because the girl would have it no other way.

The more she thought about it... no. She wasn’t endangering herself, not even close. She had lost something, though, she admitted that much. Maybe for good... no, maybe she was simply trying to find it again.

It was frustrating, to know she wasn’t perfect. The Emperor broke his promise to her in that respect; but she preferred to know the truth, anyway.

No. She cleared her mind. The others might tolerate her weakness, but she had to live with herself. This was the first step. Steeling herself before the cabin door, she knocked softly, although the less important, still naïve part of her wanted to run. This needed to be done.

"Terra?" She was too impatient. The door opened, and it took her a moment to distinguish the half-esper from the darkness beyond. Terra gestured her in, but Celes felt the twinge of regret – she hadn’t meant to wake her.

"Are you alright?" Terra asked. Not What is it, or What do you want, but, Is something wrong? She closed the door, and hugged herself, waiting. She was almost too perspective, and that made her ideal for Celes’ purposes.

"I wanted to ask you something..." If only she knew how to ask. "Things... monsters and everything, everything that we woke up... It’s a lot more dangerous than it used to be."

It was the truth. The beasts above ground were sickly and helpless. It was deceiving, for those in the deep were ancient, and they had grown formidable with their age. But, she admitted, she was also worried about herself – she wasn’t what she used to be. Terra listened, watching her movements patiently.

"I want you to take..." No. "If the worst happens, I want you to take my place."

"We’re not an army anymore," the girl pointed out, her voice deceptively even. It was a mere fact, as well as a blessing and a curse.

"I know that." Celes was almost surprised she knew what she was talking about.

"I can’t."

"Why?" Because you’re weak? No. You’re afraid? No. Whatever it is, you get over it, because... Because. "Without a... a guiding light these people are lost. He wins."

"You’re not dead yet," Terra said. She hesitated, paused in mid-thought, and went ahead calmly, "Besides... if you ever fell, I would be there. Beside you."

"But then," Celes stopped, shaking her head. It did nothing to clear her mind. "What should I do?"

"What do you want to do?"

"I need to think." Celes stumbled numbly, and Terra opened the door for her. She needed something more, maybe Edgar could... or Cyan... someone who could take the mantle if she died. No, someone who didn’t know her as well.

"Celes." She didn’t turn back. "He's alive."

"What makes you think I’m dwelling on him?" Terra had spoken so softly, she wasn’t sure what she heard, and she worried. But when she glanced over her shoulder, she knew what she, herself, must have looked like. She couldn’t tell which of them was the murky reflection of the other.

"I don’t. I was reminding myself." The girl smiled faintly as she moved to close the door, "Goodnight."

‘If you ever fell...’ Celes mulled over Terra’s words, adding in her friend’s voice, ‘...and anything that can take you, can certainly take me.’

"We have to keep ourselves safe," she murmured aloud, for the ones we love.